Maine polls open in:

Register to Vote!

You must be a citizen of the United States.

You must be at least 17 years of age (you must be at least 18 years of age by election day).

You must have established and maintain a voting residence in the municipality (i.e. city, town, plantation or unorganized township) where you seek to register. Find more on residency requirements (including policies related to college students) on the Maine Secretary of State’s website.

Maine has same-day voter registration, so there is no deadline to register in person.

Not registered?Download and complete a registration form and return it to your town registrar.Not sure if you’re registered? Call your local registrar to find out.

The last day to request an absentee ballot in Maine is Thursday, Nov. 1. All registered Maine voters can vote early by absentee ballot for any reason. You can request an absentee ballot online or get one from your town office. Absentee ballots can be completed in your town office (our version of in-person early voting) or returned by mail. Pay close attention to instructions and postage requirements. Absentee ballots must be received at your voting place by 8 pm Nov. 6.

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Ranked-Choice Voting

Sometimes called “instant run-off voting,” ranked-choice voting (RCV) ensures that only candidates who win at least 50.1% of the vote are elected to office. RCV will ONLY be used in the U.S. Senate and House races. Ranked choice voting will NOT be used in the governor’s race or Maine Legislature races. Learn more about how RCV works on the Maine Secretary of State website or from the Committee for Ranked Choice Voting.

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Voter Tools

There are many apps and websites to make voting easier (and, dare we say it, fun!). Here are some of our favorites:

Turbovote: Sign up to receive info on polling places, upcoming elections, requesting absentee ballots, candidates, and more! There’s even an app you can download on your phone that will remind you when to vote!

Vote Smart: A one-stop shopping site for voting records, ratings by groups such as the Planned Parenthood and NRA, campaign finances, public statements, and more.

Vote with Me: This new mobile app syncs your personal address book (with your permission) with the voter database to find eligible voters from your contact list so you can help get your friends to the voting booth!

OpenSecrets: Find out who is financing electeds, initiatives, lobbying groups, etc., with this powerful database run by the Center for Responsive Politics.

Your Vote 2018: Maine Public Broadcasting Network (MPBN)’s excellent run-down of candidates on the ballot this year, including links to candidate interviews and reports.

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VOLUNTEER

The most important thing you can do this year is vote. The second most important thing you can do is help get out the vote (GOTV). It’s so easy, even introverts are joining the fun. GOTV, is aimed at people who’ve indicated they are planning to vote for the candidates you support. Volunteers make sure voters know where to find their polling places and answer any final questions they may have.

Thousands of Mainers receive visits and calls during GOTV, which will be held Nov. 1-6. Volunteer drivers, door-knockers, and phone bankers are needed!

LATEST ELECTION NEWS

Independent Alan Caron drops out of governor’s race, endorses Janet MillsIndependent gubernatorial candidate Alan Caron has withdrawn from the governor’s race, and thrown his support by Democratic candidate Janet Mills, saying Mills is “the only one who can bring us forward.” Terry Hayes, the other Independent candidate, has said she will remain in the race. Read more.

Democrats have requested more absentee ballots so farNearly 100,000 Mainers had requested absentee ballots by the middle of last week, with 45% of requests coming from Democrats, 27% from Republicans, and 27% from unenrolled voters. Mainers have until Nov. 1 to request absentee ballots, but must be returned by 8 pm on election day, Nov. 6. Read more.

Republican lawmaker with felony conviction has hunted with guns
Rep. Jeffrey Pierce, R-Dresden, who was convicted of felony drug trafficking charges in 1983, has received firearm hunting permits from the state for years, in violation of a state law banning felons from possessing firearms. Pierce is running for re-election in District 53 against Democrat Alison Hepler. Read more.

Deadline to request absentee ballots Nov. 1
Maine allows all registered voters to vote by absentee ballot, for any reason. Absentee ballots must be requested by Nov. 1 and returned to your polling place by 8 pm on election day, Nov. 6. Request an absentee ballot now.

Moody Settled Sexual Discrimination Complaint in 2006Republican nominee for governor Shawn Moody settled a sexual discrimination filed in 2006 with the Maine Human Rights Commission by a female employee who accused him of firing her because he did not think she was up to the job after giving birth to her son. Read more.

MEET THE CANDIDATES

A sampling of public forums, town halls, and debates with candidates scheduled in the coming week:

Brunswick: Democratic Candidates Post-Debate Reception, 4:30-9pm, at Quinby House at 250 Maine Street. Meet Zak Ringelstein, candidate for U.S. Senate, between 4:30-6pm, and Rep. Chellie Pingree, current U.S. House representative and candidate for District 1. Hosted by Quinby House.

Thursday, Nov. 1

WMTW U.S. SenatorialDebate, 12 pm, featuring Sen. Angus King (I), Zak Ringelstein (D), and Eric Brakey (R). Watch live on WMTW-TV (Channel 8, Portland) or stream live on their website.

Maine Public Broadcasting U.S. House District 1 Debate, 8pm, featuring Chellie Pingree (D), Mark Holbrook (R), Marty Grohman (I). Watch live on MPBN-TV (Channel 10 in Portland), listen live on MPBN radio, or live stream from the MPBN website.

REFERENDUMS

QUESTION 1: CITIZEN INITIATIVE

Do you want to create the Universal Home Care Program to provide home-based assistance to people with disabilities and senior citizens, regardless of income, funded by a new 3.8% tax on individuals and families with Maine wage and adjusted gross income above the amount subject to Social Security taxes, which is $128,400 in 2018?Learn more from Ballotpedia.

QUESTION 2: BOND ISSUEPublic Law 425
Do you favor a $30,000,000 bond issue to improve water quality, support the planning and construction of wastewater treatment facilities and assist homeowners whose homes are served by substandard or malfunctioning wastewater treatment systems?Learn more from Ballotpedia.

QUESTION 3: BOND ISSUEPublic Law 467
Do you favor a $106,000,000 bond issue, including $101,000,000 for construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of highways and bridges and for facilities and equipment related to ports, piers, harbors, marine transportation, freight and passenger railroads, aviation, transit and bicycle and pedestrian trails, to be used to match an estimated $137,000,000 in federal and other funds, and $5,000,000 for the upgrade of municipal culverts at stream crossings?Learn more from Ballotpedia.

QUESTION 4: BOND ISSUEPublic Law 465, Part A
Do you favor a $49,000,000 bond issue to be matched by at least $49,000,000 in private and public funds to modernize and improve the facilities and infrastructure of Maine’s public universities in order to expand workforce development capacity and to attract and retain students to strengthen Maine’s economy and future workforce?Learn more from Ballotpedia.

QUESTION 5: BOND ISSUEPublic Law 465, Part B
Do you favor a $15,000,000 bond issue to improve educational programs by upgrading facilities at all 7 of Maine’s community colleges in order to provide Maine people with access to high-skill, low-cost technical and career education?Learn more from Ballotpedia.

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How do I...

Register to vote?

You may register to vote in Maine if you are:

a U.S. citizen

will be at least 18 years old by election day

and have established a fixed principal home in Maine.

To register, complete a voter registration card and return it in person at your town office or by mail (if by mail, it must be received by Oct. 16). You will need to provide a driver’s license, state ID, or the last 4 digits of your social security number, as well as proof of residency, such as a utility bill or lease. Find everything you need to register on the Maine Secretary of State’s website.

Check my voter registration?

Request an absentee ballot?

Any registered voter can vote by absentee ballot in Maine. To vote by absentee ballot in the Nov. 6 election, you must request an absentee ballot no later than Nov. 1. Absentee ballots must be received at your polling place by 8 pm ET on the day of the election. Request your ballot online here.

Get a ride to the polls?

A number of organizations will offer rides to the polls on election day for people who need them. More details to come closer to Nov. 6!

Vote if I am living or stationed outside the U.S.?

Maine residents who are uniformed service members or who are currently living outside the U.S. may be allowed to vote in Maine’s elections if you meet certain criteria. Visit the Maine Secretary of State’s website for more information.

Register on election day?

Maine has same-day registration, which means you can register to vote at your polling place on election day. You will need to bring ID and proof of residency in the town in which you are voting. Find more information on the Maine Secretary of State website.

Vote if I have a felony conviction?

Maine does not disenfranchise voters due to felony convictions. Provided you meet the state’s voter registration requirements, you may register and vote in Maine even if you are currently serving out your sentence.

Vote early?

While Maine does not have early voting, anyone can vote by absentee ballot, with no excuse needed. Requests for absentee ballots must be received by Nov. 1. Absentee ballots must be received by your municipal clerk by 8 pm on election day. Find more information on the Maine Secretary of State website.

Register online?

Maine does not have online voter registration.

Register if I am a college student?

Provided you meet the state’s residency requirements (which include dorms), Maine law allows students attending college in Maine to register and vote in the town where you attend college, even if you pay “out of state” tuition. Learn more from the Maine Voting Residence Fact Sheet.

If you are a resident of Maine attending college in another state, you may vote by absentee ballot.

Suit Up Maine is a statewide, all-volunteer, progressive, grassroots group of more than 5,400 Mainers that seeks to create and foster a more informed and engaged electorate. We raise awareness of and advocate for policies and legislation that promote equity and equality in civil rights, social justice, health care, the environment, education, the economy, and other areas that affect the lives of all people. We are beholden to issues and action, not parties or politicians, and we aren’t engaged in fundraising. Suit Up Maine fosters collaboration among our state’s progressive groups and organizations to collectively connect, educate, and motivate Mainers to rise in non-violent resistance to a regressive agenda.